Would you like to be able to use your Canon
DSLR for not only normal daylight photography, but also astronomical photography
AND IR photography? With a "Full Spectrum" modification, your DSLR becomes
a Triple-Use camera, optimized for your current application with
external or clip-in filters.

Normal
Photography With Astronomik OWB Clip-In Filter

Astrophotography with
Astronomik L Clip-In Filter

IR Photography with
Astronomik Pro-Planet 742 Clip-In Filter

The New Astrodon Full Spectrum Option 2 modifications
are available NOW!
Examples of IR photography with a Full Spectrum modified camera can be
seen HERE.

Available Modification Options:

Canon Camera

Option 2 (Full
Spectrum)

Digital Rebel
300D

No

Digital Rebel
350XT

No

Digital Rebel
400D/XTi

Yes

Digital Rebel
450D/XSi

Yes

Digital Rebel
1000D/XS

Yes

Digital Rebel
500D/T1i

Yes

Digital Rebel
550D/T2i

Yes

Digital Rebel
600D/T3i

Yes

Digital Rebel
650D/T4i

Yes

Digital Rebel 700D/T5i

Yes

Digital Rebel 1100D/T3

Yes

Digital Rebel 1200D/T5

Yes

5D

No

5D Mk II

No

7D

Yes

6D

No

10D

No

20D

No

30D

No

40D

Yes

50D

Yes

60D

Yes

Full Spectrum Modification Details:

Stock Canon DSLR's built in the last several years contain two filters between
the lens and the imaging sensor...an IR filter with the main purpose of blocking
IR light and establishing the camera's color balance, and a section of glass
used for the "dust cleaner" function that also blocks some IR light. In
order to open up the sensor's full spectrum capabilities, BOTH of these filters
must be removed. However, these filters also slow the light down in its
path between the lens and the sensor, so when they are removed, the light will
not come to focus properly on the front surface of the sensor. To remedy
this, we replace the two filters with one single clear filter that has the exact
equivalent optical thickness of the combined two removed filters. This
restores the proper lens to sensor distance and keeps the camera's auto-focus in
calibration. There are other clear glass filters on the market, but they do not
accurately replicate the original optical distance and the sensor position much
be altered to return the auto-focus to calibration. This is a tedious
operation requiring great precision. Only the Astrodon AD40Clear filter
has the exact thickness and refractive index required to keep your auto-focus
calibrated WITHOUT adjusting the stock sensor position. This makes it much
easier for the do-it-yourself modifier.

In the stock camera, the two filters present four optical surfaces (not counting
the lens and the sensor itself) that the light must pass through. Each
surface can cause reflections which become apparent with bright off-axis stars
in astrophotography. With the Astrodon Full Spectrum modification, the two
existing filters are replaced by one, presenting only two surfaces...each of
which is coated with the famous Astrodon hard oxide anti-reflection coating.
The clear filter is not made of ordinary float glass, but strai-free fused
silica for maximum performance.

The AD40Clear filter presents greater than 95% transmission from 430 nm (UV) to
1100 nm (IR). This provides a camera that can be used for multiple
purposes and optimized for each purpose by external or clip-in filters.

For instance, for normal daylight or indoor photography the spectrum must be
restricted to that of visible light with a response curve that closely
replicates that of the original stock filters. An external lens mounted
filter such as the X-Nite CC1 could be
used. This would require a separate filter for each lens in your bag, and
possibly multiple sizes to fit your different lenses. A more economic and
convenient solution would be a single clip-in original white balance filter such
as the Astronomik OWB
which clips into the front of the lens opening in the camera and works with all
Canon EF lenses you may have (the EF-S lenses will not work with clip-in
filters). A custom white balance cannot be used to color correct the full
spectrum modified camera for normal use since the spectral response is TOO wide
for a custom white balance to work...an actual optical correction filter must be
used. Because the full spectrum modification removes the "anti-aliasing
low pass filter" used for the dust cleaner function, images are of the highest
level of detail that your camera is capable of capturing, but the automatic dust
cleaning function will no longer be available.

For astronomical purposes, the extended UV and IR response must be limited,
while preserving all of the wavelengths important for astronomical
targets. This is because telescopes and lenses are not corrected for such
a wide spectrum. They are optimized to accurately focus visible light and
light with much shorter or longer wavelengths will be out of focus, causing "star
bloating". Systems that contain refractive elements are particularly bad
about this problem, known as "chromatic abberation". Even expensive APO
refractors are not well corrected into the IR spectrum. A standard
astronomical UV/IR blocking filter does the job nicely. Examples would be
the Baader 2" UV/IR blocker that could be put anywhere in the imaging chain.
A clip-in filter such as the
Astronomik L
could also be used and would be a good solution for wide-field photography using
normal camera lenses. In light polluted areas, the
Astronomik
CLS-CCD would be a good choice for reducing the effects of urban light
pollution. SInce the camera is sensitive to the entire spectrum,
narrowband filters such as Hydrogen-alpha, S2, O3, etc. can be used to good
effect. Some astrophotographers are now experimenting with UV and IR
imaging and the full spectrum modification provides a perfect platform for this
work.

IR photography is becoming very popular and the
full spectrum modification provides a camera that is wide open for experimenting
with this mode. By using an external lens mounted or clip-in IR filter
that passes infrared light but blocks visible light, the world appears vastly
different photographically. The sky darkens and clouds become visible with
much more contrast. Foliage appears in shades of white. Various
processing techniques can be used to create other-worldly colored images.

All of this is now possible with a single
camera!Option2 - Full Spectrum - IR Filter Replacement with Astrodon Clear
Filter - $320.00 plus return shipping of customer's choice

By replacing both the IR filter and the front filter used for the dust
cleaner function with an Astrodon clear filter of the proper
thickness, the optical viewfinder calibration and autofocus with normal lenses
is retained.
External or clip-in filters are used to customize the camera's response
for the use at hand...astronomical, normal photography, or IR imaging. In refractive
astronomical optical systems
(lenses, refractors, SCT's with refractive corrector plates, or any telescope
with an integral or external focal reducer), an external IR block filter must be inserted in the imaging chain such as a
Baader UV/IR Block or
Astronomik L
Clip-In Filter. For normal daylight use with camera lenses, an external IR blocking and color correcting filter must be used such as the
X-Nite
CC1 filter or the
Astronomik OWB
Clip-In filter.
For IR photography, a lens mounted IR filter or an
Astronomik Pro 742 IR
Clip-In filter
may be used. Thus, with this modification and external filters, the camera
becomes a triple-use device...astronomical, daylight and IR all in one!
For those who want to do the modification on their own, I
offer the Astrodon AD40Clear filter by itself...

PLEASE NOTE: When doing
your own camera modifications, you void any remaining warranty on your
camera and you take full responsibility for any damage done during the
modification. I will be happy to answer questions via e-mail but
cannot be held responsible for any damages. If you do not feel
comfortable working on microelectronics and expensive and fragile CMOS
sensors, I offer full modification service using quality Astrodon Inside
filters.

Various web sites include instructions for modifying Canon DSLR's. Please
be aware that the AD40Clear filter replaces BOTH of the stock glass filters.
It should be mounted into the plastic IR filter holder in place of the stock IR
filter. The front dust cleaning filter should be removed and the camera's
menu setting for automatic dust cleaning should be set to "disable". When
the AD40Clear replaces BOTH stock filters, the position of the sensor platform
does NOT have to be altered. In models with adjustable sensor platforms,
be sure to carefully measure the height above the metal camera chassis of the
sensor platform at all three adjustment screws with a dial micrometer or other
instrument before the modification and return the sensor platform to the same
position after modification. It is critical that the platform be returned
EXACTLY to its original position at all three adjustment screw locations or the
focus and/or sensor collimation will suffer. The adjustment can be done by
counting fractions of a turn of each screw required to bottom out the adjustment
and then adjusting the screws out by that same amount upon re-assembly, but I
have found that method to be unreliable. A dial-micrometer provides a much
finer adjustment measurement accurate to within 0.001".

Description

Price(inc. US shipping)

Part # AD40Clear
For the Canon DSLR models listed above (one per customer - no resellers)

Be sure that you understand that these
modifications will void any remaining manufacturer's warranty. Not
being a Canon dealer, I cannot warrant cameras that are sent into me for
modification. However, I test each camera before any work is done
to detect any latent issues...if any are found, the camera will be
returned un-modified. I guarantee that you will receive your
camera back in fully working condition, except obviously for the changes
described above for your particular modification. If you have any
questions regarding my work or reliability, I would invite you to ask on
any of the popular DSLR astrophotography discussion groups on the web.
I have performed well over 800 DSLR modifications and have a lot of
satisfied users out there!

While modified cameras can be and are used for everyday photography
using either external color correction filters or a custom white balance
as described HERE, please be aware that these modifications
fundamentally alter an important part of your camera's optical
chain. We are modifying your camera to make it function better for
a specific application. If you are
using your camera for professional portrait work or similar applications
where absolute stock color accuracy, pinpoint autofocus with
normal lenses, and a pristine factory clean optical system are
important, I would recommend obtaining a second camera to modify.
The prosumer line of Canon cameras do not offer significant advantages
for astronomy over the less expensive and lighter weight models and I
often recommend one of those lesser expensive models to dedicate to
astrophotography rather than modifying the family DSLR for astronomical
work.

Stringent precautions are taken during the modification process to avoid
the deposit of any dust particles on the optical surfaces. The
sensor and filters are cleaned and checked as the modification is done
and multiple test flat field images are taken and kept on file for every
camera following
each modification. Occasionally, microscopic particles can find
their way in or can work loose from the sticky tape filter gasket during
shipment but can be completely removed from images with proper flat
frame calibration as is normal for all astronomical photography.
Some models of cameras have the ability to map these microscopic spots
and adjust for them so that they are not visible.

Be sure that you understand that the Full Spectrum modification requires
that external or clip-in filters are required to tailor your camera to a
particular application. These filters are NOT supplied as part of the
modification.

Every effort is made to salvage the original filters from the camera in
good shape so that they can be replaced later if desired. In most
cases this is possible and the original filters will be returned to the
owner. However, in some models (the 400D/XTi in particular), the
filter is securely glued in place and is almost always damaged in
removal.

Payment in the form of a check or money order should be sent along with
the camera to the address below along with a description of the
modification option desired. If you desire to use PayPal instead,
please contact me at lgriffin@sc.rr.com
before payment. Please supply instructions on the
desired return shipping method (insurance for the full value of camera
is mandatory) and add sufficient funds to cover the cost. I prefer
to use USPS Priority mail for domestic shipping which generally runs $20
with insurance and delivery confirmation. Turn-around time will depend on
my work load, but should normally be less than a week once I receive
your camera. If
you need a quick turnaround, please contact me at lgriffin@sc.rr.com
before shipping the camera to check on my current lead time. Also,
contact me directly for information on other DSLR's as their
modifications become available.

When shipping a camera, please include only the
body (I have lenses, batteries, memory cards, etc. used for testing) and ship it to: